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Solid Oral Dosage Forms Use in Adults with Neurological Disorders and Swallowing Difficulties: A Scoping Review

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Abstract

Swallowing difficulties affects the deglutition of solid oral dosage forms (SODFs) and it is a common problem among neurological disorders. Interventions may improve the use of SODFs in healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to map the available research about the interventions aiming the effective and safe use of SODFs in adults with neurological disorders and swallowing difficulties and to identify potential literature gaps in this scientific field. A scoping review was carried out based on Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews, in PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO databases (March 2021). Peer-reviewed observational studies assessed the effectiveness and safety of SODFs in adults with neurological disorders and swallowing difficulties in the healthcare organizations setting were included. 11 studies were included (three case reports, two mixed-methods intervention studies, and six analytic studies). The frequency of women ranged from 49 to 67%, and the age from 57 to 91 years. Most studies (n = 7) included elderly patients, Parkinson (n = 6) and dementia (n = 3). Medication review was the most frequently reported intervention, 35% (9/26). In most studies, interventions were targeted to patients during hospitalization (n = 7) and performed by physicians (n = 8). At least 20 different outcomes were evaluated in the studies. Implementing specific protocols for using SODFs aimed at the swallowing difficulties of this population is not a common practice. Additional studies on interventions aimed at optimizing SODFs are needed to support the safety and efficacy of oral therapy in this patient group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Avenida General Carlos Cavalcanti, 4748, Uvaranas, Ponta Grossa-PR, 84030-900, Brazil

    Carolina Justus Buhrer Ferreira-Neto & Rayza Assis de Andrade

  2. Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Program, Federal University of Paraná, Avenida Lothário Meissner, 632, Jardim Botânico, Curitiba-PR, 80210-170, Brazil

    Fernanda Stumpf Tonin

  3. Pharmacy Department, Federal University of Paraná, Avenida Prefeito Lothário Meissner, 632, Jardim Botânico, Curitiba-PR, 80210-170, Brazil

    Astrid Wiens

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  1. Carolina Justus Buhrer Ferreira-Neto
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All authors contributed to have the idea for the article. CJBFN and RAA performed the literature search and data analysis. The first draft of the manuscript was written by CJBFN and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Astrid Wiens.

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Ferreira-Neto, C.J.B., de Andrade, R.A., Tonin, F.S. et al. Solid Oral Dosage Forms Use in Adults with Neurological Disorders and Swallowing Difficulties: A Scoping Review. Dysphagia 37, 909–922 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-021-10352-x

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